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the history of fashion and dress. Muromachi Period The Muromachi Period in Japan began when Takauji appointed himself shogun and established the government in Kyoto. Women wore robes that reached the ankle and new ways of wearing robes came about. There was an over the head veil, as shown on this great site. There was also a corrupt society during the middle of this period, so it was a very poor time. The kosode, which is a type of kimono, was born during this period. It can be seen here. Clothing also became simpler during this period as the samurais took over.                             People wore clothes of hemp fabrics, as cotton was not popular. The men of the samurai class usually wore kariginu, which can be seen here. The women of the samurai class usually wore the kosode, which is much like the kimono we think of today. For men, the hitatare became formal wear in the Muromachi Period and two types of hitatare developed. A kataginu, made of silk was also developed for men in this period. These clothes can be seen here. This website is great for all kinds of information about any and all Japanese garments. As you can see, the clothing in Japan changed with the political situation. The warring times of the Muromachi Period had a large influence on the clothing. It is very interesting that the kimono has had so many different forms rather than just what we think of today. Rachel Blackwell

RachelMonster.com